No guilds involved, and no pics yet ...
Been looking for an alternative for live work with my '43 Martin 0-18. It mics up very well, but I find it very hard to work with that on stage. So have been looking at acoustic/electrics for awhile, also researching soundhole p/us.
Last time I tried a soundhole p/u with this guitar was 20 years ago. It was a single coil of some sort. Pretty sound, but as soon as it got near loud enough to work with, lots of feedback. Lots more choices now. That one that intrigued me most was the Baggs M80 p/u, can be set for active or passive operation. In active mode, claimed to not need any separate preamp. Also claimed to be feedback resistant. And comes with a volume control on the p/u itself, such a great idea.
Installed it the other night, carefully and nervously. No way I want to harm the delicate wood around the soundhole. Not the easiest thing, but got it done. Ran the cable out the hole, over the top and around the back of the neck. Once again, no way I'd mod this to incorporate that plug end as the endpin, which really is the better way.
Plugged into my regular electric rig - TIM, Skreddy Echo, Texotica outboard reverb, plugged into a Valvetech VAC 22 head and 1x12 cab. Turned the amp master way down, which channel volumes less than half, anticipating runaway feedback.
At about halfway up on the p/u volume, it's a really pretty sound. More or less just a bigger version of the sweet and loud tone I've always loved in this old Martin. The real surprise was when I turned up. Went from pretty to primitive, swampy. Playing in open D, with slide, that raw edge and power I've always heard in Elmore James (and others) is right here. Dig in harder, or vary the right hand and slide up higher, there's this dense overdrive, with just a touch of feedback, just enough to let the notes swell and hold. It's addictive! Can't wait to try this live
I"d never even thought about playing higher volume, trying for an overdriven sound. What a pleasant surprise. If you get a chance to try this p/u - and are open to the more electric side of acoustic sounds - don't pass it up.
MD
Been looking for an alternative for live work with my '43 Martin 0-18. It mics up very well, but I find it very hard to work with that on stage. So have been looking at acoustic/electrics for awhile, also researching soundhole p/us.
Last time I tried a soundhole p/u with this guitar was 20 years ago. It was a single coil of some sort. Pretty sound, but as soon as it got near loud enough to work with, lots of feedback. Lots more choices now. That one that intrigued me most was the Baggs M80 p/u, can be set for active or passive operation. In active mode, claimed to not need any separate preamp. Also claimed to be feedback resistant. And comes with a volume control on the p/u itself, such a great idea.
Installed it the other night, carefully and nervously. No way I want to harm the delicate wood around the soundhole. Not the easiest thing, but got it done. Ran the cable out the hole, over the top and around the back of the neck. Once again, no way I'd mod this to incorporate that plug end as the endpin, which really is the better way.
Plugged into my regular electric rig - TIM, Skreddy Echo, Texotica outboard reverb, plugged into a Valvetech VAC 22 head and 1x12 cab. Turned the amp master way down, which channel volumes less than half, anticipating runaway feedback.
At about halfway up on the p/u volume, it's a really pretty sound. More or less just a bigger version of the sweet and loud tone I've always loved in this old Martin. The real surprise was when I turned up. Went from pretty to primitive, swampy. Playing in open D, with slide, that raw edge and power I've always heard in Elmore James (and others) is right here. Dig in harder, or vary the right hand and slide up higher, there's this dense overdrive, with just a touch of feedback, just enough to let the notes swell and hold. It's addictive! Can't wait to try this live
I"d never even thought about playing higher volume, trying for an overdriven sound. What a pleasant surprise. If you get a chance to try this p/u - and are open to the more electric side of acoustic sounds - don't pass it up.
MD
